Go Karts give youngsters the freedom to explore their neighborhoods at high speeds but with enough safety features to protect them from possible hazards. While these mini cars are certainly not highway-safe, nor are they recommended for use on busy roads, they are powerful machines with top speeds of around 40 miles per hour. Naturally, kids should always be closely supervised when taking their carts out for a spin.

If you're leery of buying full-size Go Karts for your children, you may want to consider starting off with a beginner's cart, which is meant as an introduction to the art of driving. These "pup" carts only achieve a full speed of seven or eight miles per hour but still come with a full suite of safety devices such as harnesses, safety-flag engines, and single-pedal operation. Moreover, they're well padded to give young drivers an extra layer of protection in the case of low-speed collisions.

Full-Size Go Karts

While pup carts can sell for as low as a few hundred dollars, carts for bigger kids and young adults run significantly more. The Yerf Dog 2003 model, for example, can run 1600 dollars, and that's before you invest in a helmet, pads, and other accessories, which are an absolute must for drivers of any age or experience. These carts also come with padded roll bars, three-point restraint systems, and full suspension for a smoother ride.

If you've already ponied up for ping pong tables, bunk beds, and other favorite childhood toys, Go Karts are your next logical step. It's important to remember that as much fun as these carts may be, they are still relatively sophisticated driving machines. If your child has never been behind the wheel of a Go Kart, it's worth spending as much time as necessary with him or her in the passenger seat before everybody feels sufficiently comfortable.